Uncoupling mechanism for car couplers



Aug. 18, 1936; A. J. BAZELEY 2,051,362

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS I Filed March 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR N E Y- Aug. 18, 1936 BAZELEY 2,051,362

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed March 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qt INVENTOR- RNEY- Au 18, 1936. A. J. BAZELEY 2,051,362

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed March 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR- ATT Aug. 18, 1936. A. J. BAZELEY I 2,051,362

I UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR GAR COUPLERS Filed March 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- t frifiufffia'e@ BY ATT RNEY- Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS Ohio Application March 25, 1932, Serial No. 601,095

13 Claims. (01. 213-169) This invention relates to uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, particularly for rotary and top operation of couplers of standard type.

An object of the invention is to provide uncoupling mechanism of this character in which simple and effective means are provided for preventing undesired movement of the mechanism to effect uncoupling action. Another object is to provide improved top operating mechanism which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and durable in service. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed outin connection with the following description of preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are plan, front elevation, and side elevation views, respectively, of uncoupling mechanism in accordance with the invention, associated parts of the car frame and coupler being shown in outline.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modification of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are front elevation and side elevation views, respectively, of one form of the invention as applied to a rotary operated coupler.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side elevations, respectively, partly broken away, of another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a conventional form of car structure including a front frame 2, having mounted thereon coupler head 3. The coupler may be of any suitable construction, and is preferably mounted on the car frame through suitable draft gear and for swiveling action. That is to say, present standard car couplers are capable of longitudinal movement under bufling and pulling forces, and also of angling in the course of operation, as in rounding curves. In constructing uncoupling mechanism, these considerations must be borne in mind. Any suitable locking mechanism may be provided within the coupler head for holding the coupler knuckle in locked position and for throwing the same.

In Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown mechanism for effecting uncoupling action, which mechanism may preferably include interconnecting uncoupling rods 4 and 5. The rod 4 is shown as having a portion 6 extending generally laterally at the front of the car and carried by brackets l and 8 on the frame 2. This rod is shown as also including a forwardly extending portion 9. In order to provide for connection of the rod 5 to the rod 4, the latter is shown as having a U-shaped bend ID with an eye ll formed at the outer or free end of the U-shaped portion. One end of the rod 5 is shown extending through an eye [2 which maybe connected to the coupler lock. This end of the rod 5 may have a hook-shaped portion l3 to prevent accidental disengagement of the rod from the eye l2. The other end of the rod 5 is shown as including a U-shaped portion M the free end of which is shown adapted to pass through the eye I l so that the legs of the U [4 lie on opposite sides of the U-shaped portion 15 [0 of the member 9. The U-shaped portion 14 may be offset from the member 5 through a portion I5, and the outer end of the U-shaped portion 10 may be bent slightly downwardly. Through this construction a better leverage and smoother operation is achieved, for during initial movement of the handle 20, slack between the lock lifter and lock is first taken up, and, as the actual lifting of the lock begins, the portion I0 lies approximately at right angles to the direction of movement of the lock lifter. At the same time, the member 5 is maintained horizontal when the lock is lifted.

In assembling the construction thus far described, the rod 5 may first have its U-shaped portion 14 threaded through the eye I I, and then be swung into the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3, whereupon the rods 5 and 6 may be attached to the car, by first threading the portion l3 of the rod 5 through eye I2, and then placing the member 6 in the brackets l and 8 in which it may be retained through suitable bolts or cotter pins l6ll. This construction provides a simple and effective connection between an operating handle hereafter described, and the coupler lock, and at the same time is easily assembled and disassembled, while a small number of parts are required, and no additional bolts or securing means are needed besides the means for securing the rod 6 to the car frame.

My improved lock-operating means may comprise a handle 25, having a loop portion 2| for receiving a U-shaped portion 22 at the opposite end of the rod 6 from the U-shaped portion Ill. The handle 20 may hang from the member 6 and its portion 2| be retained against undesired lateral movement by flanges 23 and 24 on bracket 1. In order to unlock the coupler by actuation of handle 20, it is necessary to swing the handle forwardly and upwardly, or in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 3. While the Weight of the handle 20 may be sufficient to prevent such swinging at undesired times, as when a sudden shock is imparted to the car, I prefer to provide means for positively preventing this action save under manual operation of the handle. h v

Such means may take the following form. In

the drawings, there is shown at 25 a depending portion of the bracket 1, said portion havinga generally horizontal foot 28 which-#extends in front of the handle 26. In order to provide for the manual withdrawal of the handle from be-, hind the foot 26, the opening in the portion 2| of the handle may be of a size to allow clearance so that the handle 25 may swing in a vertical plane laterally of the car, as shown by the dotted lines in'Fig. 2. At the same time, the spacingbetween the flanges 23 and 24 is sufiicient for'this purpose while the lower end of the flange 23, as shown at 21, may be taperedoutwardly. When it' is desired tounlockth'e coupler, the handle 20 must first be swung laterally, and then pulled forwardly and-upwardly, the first operation releasing the handle from the foot or stop 26, and

the second operation swinging the rod 6 to effect an uncoupling action, As best shown in Figs. 4

and ;8, the forward face of foot 26 is preferably formed as a surface inclined at an angle to the car frame member 2; In this manner, provision is made for automatically returning the handle 20 to a position behind the foot when it is released and allowed to swing rearwardly, for it then, after striking member 26, will slide along the surface 26' and then of its own weight into the position shown in Fig. 4. I

It will thus be seen that there is provided simple and effective means for preventing undesiredun'coupling action, while at the same time, the manual effort necessary to efiect uncoupling is not increased,

The rear or inner face of the foot 26 is also inclined as shown at 26" in Fig. 4. 7 Hence when an operator pulls on handle 20 in a direction longitudinally of the car, said handle, due to said inclined face 25?, willbe forced to swing laterally out of engagement with said foot. 7 There is thus avoided the possibility of injury to the operator, which would be present if a flat face were pro vided and the operator applied a sudden pull to the handle to effect uncoupling without realizing the presence of said face It willbe understood that'the construction last described may be employed with other types of uncoupling rods, and such, another construction'is shown in Fig. 5, where the uncoupling rod 6' is shown as having a portion 9 with ,a loop 9 for engaging a member l2 attached to the coupler lock. In operation, the rod 6' is rotated through handle 2%, swinging the forward end of arm 9' upwardly. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown still another modification of the constructions already described, particularly suited to bottom rotary operated couplers. In this construction, handle'2'0 is shown having a portion 2| forming a loop for passing over U-shape'd portion 22 on member 6". This U-shaped portion '22 is preferably elongated to allow for lateral motion of the coupler and ,memberfi. The endof this rod may havea hook 28 for engaging an eye '29 connected through any convenient lever 30 to lock lifter 3|. The bracket 1 with extension .25 and foot or stop 261i, flanges 23' and 24' are similar to the bracket 1 and the corresponding elements disclosed in Figures 1-4, and the operation of handle 20 in Figures 6-8, and its cooperation with bracket 1' and foot 260 are the same as previously described in connection with Figures 1-4.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is illustrated a construction especially adapted to enable the coupler operating handle at one side ofthe car to remain stationary while the knuckle is thrown from the other side of the car, and combining this feature with means to prevent the operating handle from being thrown forwardly to effect un- 45 may have a loop portion 46 supported by the bracket through 'a pin 41. The upper leg of the U-shaped portion 22 of the operating rod 6" is shown extending through loop 46, while the other leg of the U 22 normally lies just underneath the bottom of the loop 46 and in front of the handle, for actuation by the latter. as having a downwardly extending portion 42 formed as a continuation of the back portion 42 of the bracket, and a foot 48 adjacent the lower end of the extension and formed similarly to foot 26 described in connection with the other constructions. It will be understood that the operating rod 15 may be connected to the coupler as shown in Fig. 6, or in other convenient manner, and that the handle 45 operates similarly to handle 20 save that it does not swing upwardly if the coupler is uncoupled from the other. side of the car with consequent movement of rod 6'. At the same time, the foot 48 prevents sudden impacts .from effecting uncoupling through swinging of handle 45. a

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the usev of such terms or expressions, of excluding any equivalentsof the features shown and described, or' portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a manually operable member, means including a bracket to pivot said member for swinging in a plurality of vertical planes, means responsive to swinging of said member in one of said planes" for causing uncoupling of the coupler, a depending portion formed on said bracket, a foot formed on said. portion and having a surface extending at one side of said member for normally preventing swingingthereof in one of said planes to effect uncoupling of the coupler, and means comprising an inclined surface on a part of said bracket engageable by said member when the' latter swings downwardly by gravity for directing :said member into engageable relation with the first mentioned surface of said foot.

'2. In uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a bracket having spaced flanges, an uncoupling rod mounted for turning in said bracket and having a U-shaped end-portion, an operating handle positioned between said flanges and having a loop portion engaging said U-shaped portion of said rod and constructedand arranged for turning said rod upon movement of said handle in a given direction, and means normally preventing said handle from being moved in said direction, said handle being also mounted for ,swin

The bracket is shown ing movement in a direction toward one side of said preventing means, and said bracket flanges being positioned in such relation to each other as to enable said handle to be swung in said direction to a position free of said preventing means.

3. An uncoupling mechanism as defined by claim 2, wherein the loop portion of said handle is supported on said rod.

4. In uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a bracket having spaced flanges, an uncoupling rod mounted for turning in said bracket and having a U-shaped end portion, an operating handle positioned between said flanges and having a loop portion engaging said U-shaped portion of said rod and constructed and arranged for turning said rod upon movement of said handle in a given direction, and means normally preventing said handle from being moved in said direction, said handle being also mounted for swinging movement in a direction toward one side of said preventing means, and said bracket flanges being positioned in such relation to each other as to enable said handle to be swung in said direction to a position free of said preventing means, said bracket flanges extending in generally vertical planes, a horizontal member being mounted therein for supporting the loop portion of said handle for pivotal movement.

5. An uncoupling mechanism as defined by claim 2, wherein the upper leg of the U-shaped portion'of the rod extends through the loop of the handle, and the lower leg of said U-shaped portion extends below said loop portion of said handle.

6. In a rotary uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a member adapted to swing in a vertical plane, means comprising a stationary surface for normally preventing such movement, and means comprising an inclined surface engageable by said member when the latter swings downwardly by gravity for causing said member to be engaged by the first mentioned surface.

'7. In uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a bracket having a depending portion including a foot adapted to lie in a generally horizontal plane, said bracket also having spaced flanges adjacent its upper portion and lying in generally vertical planes, an uncoupling rod supported by said bracket and having a U-shaped end portion, an operating handle positioned between said flanges and having a loop portion engaging said U-shaped portion of said rod and adapted to turn said rod upon movement of said handle in a given direction, said foot normally preventing said handle from being moved in said direction, said handle being also mounted for swinging movement in a direction toward one side of said foot, and said bracket flanges being so positioned as to enable said handle to be swung in said direction to a position free of said foot.

8. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a handle, an operating member connected therewith to permit operation of the member independently of operation of the handle, and means for normally preventing movement of the handle for uncoupling the coupler, said means comprising a stationary foot adapted to engage the handle, said foot having a surface so constructed as to urge said handle out of engagement therewith in response to a sustained pull on said handle by an operator.

9. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a handle, means to pivot the handle for swinging movement longitudinally and laterally of the car, an uncoupling rod engaged by said handle for turning in response to swinging of said handle longitudinally of the car, a foot engaged by said handle for normally preventing swinging of said handle longitudinally of the car, said foot having an inclined surface engaged by said handle for urging said handle laterally of the car in response to a longitudinal pull of said handle by an operator.

10. An uncoupling mechanism as defined by claim 9 wherein said foot has an exterior surface inclined in such direction as to urge the handle into engageable relation with the first mentioned surface during swinging of said handle by gravity from its operated position.

11. In uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a handle, means pivotally mounting said handle for swinging in directions both longitudinally and laterally of the car, an uncoupling rod, means comprising a loop on said handle engaging said rod for turning said rod in response to swinging of said handle longitudinally of the car, a foot having a surface engaged by said handle for normally preventing said handle from swinging longitudinally until said handle is moved laterally to clear said surface, and means comprising another surface on said foot for urging said handle into engageable relation to the first mentioned surface during downward swinging of said handle by gravity from its operated position.

12. As an article of manufacture, a bracket having a depending body portion and a foot extending from said depending body portion and adapted to lie in a genrally horizontal plane, said foot having a forward face inclined forwardly toward the outer end of the foot from a point displaced laterally from said .depending body portion and a rearward face extending laterally from the region of said laterally displaced point to said depending body portion of said bracket.

13. In rotary uncoupling mechanism for a car coupler, a member having a portion thereof adapted to swing in a substantially vertical plane, means comprising a stationary surface for normally preventing such movement, and means comprising an inclined surface engageable by said member for causing the latter to be engaged by the first-mentioned surface when said member swings downwardly by gravity.

ARTHUR J. BAZELEY. 

